Cyberabad Police Book Social Media Personality VRK After Law Student Hospitalised Over ‘VRK Diet’
The Cyberabad police have registered a criminal case against social media personality Veeramachineni Ramakrishna, widely known as VRK, and a homeopathy practitioner, Koteshwara Rao, following a complaint by a 30-year-old law student who claimed he was hospitalised after being advised to stop insulin as part of the so-called VRK diet. The case, filed at the Raidurgam police station, includes charges of cheating, endangering human life, criminal conspiracy and practising modern medicine without registration.
The development marks the first formal police action against the VRK diet programme, which has been promoted through YouTube and Instagram as a cure for type-1 diabetes, cancer and kidney disease. The complainant, a law student who has been living with type-1 diabetes since 2018, said he came across the videos and contacted VRK in September 2025.
Details of the complaint
According to the First Information Report (FIR), the student visited the VRK Health Care Centre in Raidurg after watching the promotional content. He alleged that he was orally advised to discontinue insulin and was sold supplements and services for approximately ₹26,000. The bill, he noted, did not contain GST details. Within two days of following the advice, he was admitted to a private hospital with diabetic ketoacidosis and severe dehydration. He was discharged later that month after incurring medical expenses of around ₹58,219.
The complainant, who is studying law, also raised questions about the qualifications of those running the centre. He pointed to a video in which VRK admitted to being only a BCom graduate. Koteshwara Rao, who holds a degree in homeopathy, was allegedly advising on allopathic treatment, which falls outside the scope of his registration. The complaint further sought verification of the centre’s trade licence, labour licence, DMHO provisional certificate, GST registration and the legal status of the supplements supplied.
Legal provisions invoked
Police have registered the case under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS): Section 318(4) for cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property, Section 125(a) for acts endangering human life or personal safety, and Section 61(2) for criminal conspiracy. The FIR also invokes Section 54 of the National Medical Commission Act, which prohibits the practice of modern medicine by unregistered individuals, and Sections 3 and 4 of the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954, which bar advertisements claiming to cure certain diseases, including diabetes.
The complainant has also approached the consumer court seeking compensation for the medical expenses and other losses.
| Datos clave | |
|---|---|
| Complainant | 30-year-old law student, type-1 diabetes since 2018 |
| Amount paid for supplements | Approximately ₹26,000 |
| Medical expenses incurred | Approximately ₹58,219 |
| Police station | Raidurgam, Cyberabad |
Separate court order against VRK
In a related development, the Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) announced on Tuesday that it had secured a civil city court order restraining VRK from publishing content involving unauthorised medical advice and derogatory remarks against allopathic doctors on his social media handles. Dr Karthik Nagula, president of HRDA, said the association had also approached Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram, as well as YouTube, requesting the removal or disabling of the identified content. The court granted the relief sought by the association, effectively barring VRK from continuing the promotional campaign for the VRK diet.
Why this matters for Hyderabad residents
The case highlights the risks associated with unverified medical advice circulating on social media platforms, particularly for individuals managing chronic conditions such as type-1 diabetes. Hyderabad, as a major urban centre, has a significant population of young professionals and students who are active on digital platforms and may be exposed to such promotions. The involvement of the Cyberabad police and the civil court order signals a growing regulatory and legal response to the phenomenon of unlicensed health influencers operating in the city.
The complainant’s decision to pursue both criminal and consumer remedies also provides a template for others who may have been affected by similar programmes. Residents are advised to verify the credentials of any individual or centre offering medical treatment, especially when the advice involves discontinuing prescribed medication.
Source: Times of India – Hyderabad – Veeramachineni Ramakrishna booked after student ends up in hospital over VRK diet (https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/veeramachineni-ramakrishna-booked-after-student-ends-up-in-hospital-over-vrk-diet/articleshow/134571528.cms)